Monday, June 13, 2011

Formal: Prince Harry looks unusually serious as he stands behind his new sister-in-law Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

He is becoming as renowned as his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh for livening up formal Royal events with wisecracks.

At Trooping the Colour, Prince Harry took the opportunity to entertain the Royal Family with his quips and had his new sister-in-law Catherine in stitches on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

But the Duchess of Cambridge, who was wearing a form-fitting, double-breasted fitted ivory jacket and dress, with a dramatic black hat, seemed to give as good as she got and at one point, had Harry covering his face with his hands. Royal Joker: Harry hides his face as Catherine bursts out laughing at the Trooping the Colour to mark the Queen's 85th birthday

As the Queen’s official birthday parade and fly-past took place, Catherine looked as ease among her new Royal relatives and particularly Harry, with whom she and William are currently sharing an apartment at Clarence House.

It was the first time that the newly-weds have had such a prominent role in a Royal Family event. They appeared relaxed as Prince William also made Catherine giggle with his jokes.

Yesterday’s ceremony marked the first time he had taken part in the parade on horseback.

As The Mail on Sunday revealed he would do weeks ago, William escorted the Queen on a grey horse called Wellesley.

Laughs: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge share a joke on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour

Last night friends of the 28-year-old Royal said he had been more nervous ahead of the ceremony than his new wife, who seemed quite at home as she rode in a horse-drawn barouche.

William, in a bearskin which at one point threatened to slip down his face, wore the scarlet Irish Guards uniform he was married in.

The parade marks the Queen’s official birthday on June 11 and takes place on Horse Guards Parade, which was lined with wellwishers.

The Queen, who is marking her 85th birthday, arrived with Prince Philip, who celebrated his 90th birthday on Friday.

Salute: The 28-year-old Prince took part in the parade for the first time to mark his grandmother the Queen's official birthday